Rose Lavelle (left) is out injured, but Gotham teammates Nealy Martin (center) and Ella Stevens (right) earned their first call-ups (EM Dash-Imagn Images)
Six players have earned their first call-ups to the United States women’s national team for January training camp as head coach Emma Hayes continues her quest to deepen the player pool and develop new talent.
The training camp, which begins outside of Los Angeles on Jan. 14, will feature a host of new and returning names among the 26 players, with several established stars from the Olympic gold medal-winning team missing to rest their injuries. Midfielder Rose Lavelle is among those absent following a recent ankle surgery, U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday.
European-based players, including captain Lindsey Horan, are also absent from the roster because the January training camp does not fall withing a FIFA window. The camp will run concurrently with a 24-player “Futures Camp” at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. U.S. Soccer will announce that roster on Wednesday.
NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Ella Stevens and midfielder and club teammate Nealy Martin are among the six uncapped players receiving their first call-ups. They are joined by defender Tara McKeown – who converted from forward to centerback for the Washington Spirit – defender Ryan Williams, and goalkeepers Angelina Anderson and Claudia Dickey.
It is the first national team call-up at any age level for Martin and Williams.
The self-proclaimed “Triple Espresso” forward line of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson remain absent from this roster to allow them further rest following nagging injuries they dealt with late in 2024. All three of them missed the United States’ trip to Europe for games against England (a scoreless draw) and the Netherlands (a 2-1 win) in late November and early December.
Rodman labored through the Spirit’s NWSL Championship loss the week prior to that trip, saying that her injured back was “not feeling great” but that she decided to stay in the game.
Only 11 of the 22 players from the United States’ 2024 Olympic gold medal-winning team will be at training camp this month. This U.S. training camp is the first since two-time World Cup-winning goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher retired from international duty.
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Hayes preached throughout the fall that she wanted to deepen the player pool and figure out which players can be part of the process of building toward the 2027 World Cup. Eleven players earned their first caps for the U.S. in 2024. Hayes said she expected to have clearer answers by the time February’s SheBelieves Cup kicked off.
January camp also marks the return of several players who have been absent from the international scene, including fullback Crystal Dunn. Dunn last played a competitive match on Sept. 22 for Gotham FC and missed the rest of the NWSL season, and the two most recent U.S. camps, due to an excused absence.
Several players with previous international experience will appear in their first camp under Hayes.
Forward Ashley Hatch returns to U.S. camp for the first time since the end of 2023, when she was left off the World Cup roster. Midfielder Savannah DeMelo, who was a surprise starter at the 2023 World Cup for an injured Lavelle, is back in camp for the first time in over a year.
Portland Thorns forward Morgan Weaver returns to the U.S. camp for the first time since 2021.
The U.S. is back in camp in January after not holding a camp during this month last year for the first time since 2013.
The U.S. women return to the field for competitive matches in late February against Australia, Colombia and Japan in the SheBelieves Cup.
U.S. women’s national team training camp roster (Club; Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (4): Angelina Anderson (Angel City FC; 0), Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 0), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals; 1), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 20)
DEFENDERS (9): Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 65/3), Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 155/25), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 44/2), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC; 1/0), Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit; 0/0), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 18/2), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 2/0), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 103/2), Ryan Williams (North Carolina Courage; 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 28/1), Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC; 7/0), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit; 3/0), Nealy Martin (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0/0), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage; 28/3), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals; 2/0), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 21/8)
FORWARDS (6): Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 22/5), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 3/1), Ella Stevens (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0/0), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 13/1), Morgan Weaver (Portland Thorns FC; 2/0), Lynn Williams (Seattle Reign FC; 75/21)
